The correlation between the color change of the tympanic membrane and effusion viscosity at otitis media with effusion

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate how the color change of the tympanic membrane and effusion viscosity caused by otitis media with effusion (EOM). We tried to obtain objective criteria for diagnosis and treatment for patients who were going to have surgery for the otitis media with effusion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The tympanic membranes of all patients (Group 1) and healthy volunteers (Group 2) were photographed with an endoscope. RGB (red-green-blue) values of the photographs of the two groups were measured. After paracentesis of Group 1 patients, effusion viscosity was measured with a viscometer. All of the effusions were intraoperatively assessed as mucoid. Group 1 was divided into two subgroups according to effusion viscosity: Group 1a<450cP(centipoise) and Group 1b>450cP. RESULTS: When RGB values of the tympanic membranes were compared, we found a significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 (p<0.001). We found no statistically significant difference between the RGB values of Group 1a and Group 1b (p>0.05), nor was there a correlation between effusion viscosity and mean average of RGB values of the tympanic membranes. CONCLUSION: Effusion viscosity, an important factor for spontaneous resolution of EOM, is not predictible unless paracentesis has been performed. This study showed a significant relationship between the RGB values of the tympanic membrane and the presence of effusion. We did not find a significant serous-mucous differentiation because all of our patients had mucoid effusion. Endoscopic RGB images have a potential to be a new modality to asist in diagnosis and treatment of EOM. KEY WORDS: Otitis media with effusion, glue, viscosity, RGB(red-green-blue)